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The ladies of Longbourn spent as much time as possible getting ready to vacate their estate.

Sorting through clothes and belongings filled their days.

They went around to the families in the area to say goodbye.

Making sure they gave the Lucas family a proper farewell was especially important to them.

They had been close for many years and wanted to explain the situation.

Unexpectedly, the interaction was quite uncomfortable.

Charlotte was extremely proud of her engagement to their cousin, Mr. Collins, and was upset that they were not more delighted for her.

She did not want to take any of their warnings to heart.

When she implied they had treated their cousin poorly and should not expect to receive anything from the estate when he inherited, they left.

Despite their busy schedule, they also said goodbye to Mrs. Guthrie McDougal. They had a perfect moment to say goodbye when they gathered for tea. As the tea was served and conversation flowed, Caroline was unusually quiet, making only a few remarks, none of them being negative.

“I am glad that they will make him see justice. Leaving debts wherever he went, seducing young girls, attempting murder, and kidnapping… A man like that has no right to his freedom.” Guthrie glanced around the room and smiled.

Despite all the trauma these girls had gone through, they were on the path to recovery.

“Yes, he is a menace to society. I, for one, am glad that he is no longer free to threaten my girls.” Mrs. Bennet was not at all upset that the man was on trial with the possibility of execution or transportation to Australia. Elizabeth still had remnants of the bruise on her cheek.

“Miss Kitty, how are you holding up? It cannot have been easy to defend your sister in such a manner.” Guthrie eyed the girl, checking to see if shooting a man had adversely affected her.

“I could not allow him to hit her or attempt to take her away. I had to act.” Kitty said these words with pride. “In the past, I felt like I had no power. It was quite liberating, realizing that I was not as powerless as I felt.”

“I am glad that you have gained confidence in yourself, dear.”

“What time are you leaving in the morning?” Jane spoke up from next to Caroline.

“We will leave at first light. The sun sets so early now that I would like to travel as far as we can before dark.” They were ready to depart, only leaving out the necessities for tonight and tomorrow; everything else was in their trunks.

“I know we must leave soon, but before we go, I would like to apologize. The way they encouraged me to behave at school was not correct. I understand that now.” Caroline was more subdued than anyone had seen her before.

Jane’s love for people and the kindness at the root of her heart always led her to help those who were struggling.

“Everyone has had the experience of being on the wrong track at some point. If you keep focusing on your relationships with people, you will certainly find the solution. We forgive you.”

After reassurances of continued friendship and promises to stay in contact, Mrs. McDougal and Caroline left to return to Netherfield. It was nice to say goodbye to their new friends. They were all moving on to fresh paths and new possibilities.

Darcy and Elizabeth watched the sun crest the horizon from the top of Oakham Mount, accompanied by the chorus of birdsong in the early morning.

Kiernan had come along as well, happy to act as a chaperone.

He wanted to make sure nothing happened to Elizabeth, as their last attempt to make it to the top of Oakham Mount had not ended well.

From their vantage point, they could see the vista below them adorned with scarlet and orange leaves, sparkling with the mist from the chilly fall morning.

It appeared as if everything was ablaze and glowing in the sunrise.

Darcy pulled Elizabeth into his strength, wanting to lend her some of his own.

Entwining his fingers with hers, he watched as she said goodbye to her complicated childhood.

“Do not think of it as an end, Lizziebet. It is a beginning.” His face lit up with a beaming smile as he referred to the woman he adored with the pet name he favored.

She lay her head on his shoulder, watching the sun rise above the horizon from the comfort of his arms. “I think it will be a glorious beginning if this sunrise is any sign. I have always felt that you should only think of the past as long as its remembrance gives you pleasure. There is pleasure in remembering the good things that happened. The good people who I knew here. Things were not all bad. After all, being here meant I was able to meet you.”

“Mr. Darcy, do you have any horses like Crumpet at Pemberley?” Kiernan inquired from where he stood petting the magnificent horse.

“No, not exactly like him, but I was thinking of having him sire a few foals in the spring. I would like to continue his line.” Darcy smiled back at Kiernan.

He would forever be indebted to the boy.

For every moment he felt contentment with Elizabeth, he felt the urge to add to his plans for rewarding Kiernan for all he had done.

“I am sure you will love watching all the young horses play.” Elizabeth laughed at the glee in Kiernan’s expression.

“Do you think he might enjoy further schooling? Maybe Eton?” Darcy whispered in Elizabeth’s ear.

“He is a voracious learner. I think he would like it. Would they shun him for his position in society?” Elizabeth murmured back to Darcy.

“We could make it known that we are sponsoring him for his remarkable efforts on behalf of the Darcy family, and it might go well. Or we could say he has shown promise, and he will be required to work for us for a few years to pay us back. Frankly, I think his character is so likable that he is bound to make friends,” Darcy reasoned, enjoying the feel of Elizabeth whispering into his ear.

“I think it is a brilliant idea if he wants to do it,” said Elizabeth, grinning. The idea of helping Kiernan to expand his horizons delighted her.

“Do you think I will like where I am moving? Will I be close to you and Miss Elizabeth?” Kiernan, like most children, was slightly apprehensive about change. He looked up at Elizabeth and Darcy, unaware of their discussion.

“I think you will love it. Your parents have asked to take over the opening at my home farm. It is very near where I live. However, Miss Elizabeth will not live with me at Pemberley unless we get married.”

“Oh, that is just a matter of timing. You ask Miss Elizabeth to marry you. You say words at a church, and you are married. Then you get to come to have fun with me at Pemberley.” Kiernan’s eager expression and innocent explanation of how the world worked were astounding to the two adults looking down at him.

“Of course, it is just that simple,” Darcy said under his breath. When had the complexities of life taken away his simple view of the world? Had he ever viewed the world as clearly as Kiernan did?

“I know you love each other. It is not a question of if, it is just when,” Kiernan continued, unaffected by the shock on Darcy and Elizabeth’s faces.

“Just a matter of when?” Darcy parroted Kiernan’s earlier statement. The gears in his mind whirring at impossible speeds.

“I guess so.” Elizabeth was likewise engaged in a rapid analysis of her heart. Was there any reason not to want to be married to Wills? Her heart said no.

Without hesitation, Darcy made a bold move to grasp what he desired most. “Your mother has determined that Jane and Mary should experience a season. Is that something that you want for yourself?”

“No, having a season in the ton has never appealed to me. Now that I know what I want, a season would be useless.” Elizabeth’s eyes shone with hope.

“I had plans and a script. I was going to make sure I did not put my boot in my mouth this time. We were going to play chess at my house after dinner one evening and I was going to tell you about how you were my queen. You are the most important piece of my life. You make everything better. Everything is clear and good when you are near me. You see who I am, and what I mean, even when I put my boot in my mouth. I know I am messing this up, but I do not have better words right now, and I feel like now is the time to speak.” The world dropped away from Darcy.

Had someone transported them to the moon, it would have made no difference.

All that existed at that moment was the woman standing in front of him and the way she made him feel.

“Are you asking for my hand in marriage?” Elizabeth asked. Tears of joy glimmered in her eyes as the morning sun illuminated her love. Her affection for the man before her was almost too great to bear.

“Yes.” Darcy had every expectation of a positive outcome if her expression meant what he hoped.

Elizabeth raised up on her toes, attempting to bring their eyes closer together. “Do you remember me saying I wished I could call you something other than Wills, but I was too timid to let you know yet?”

“Yes, I remember. I am perfectly happy that you have been calling me Wills. Lizziebet, I am happy with anything you wish to call me.” Leaning down to fill the gap between them, he nuzzled her temple, savoring the warmth of her skin.

“Yes, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Wills, I will marry you. That way, when we are alone together, I can call you mine.” Elizabeth’s cheeks grew hot in response to her brave declaration.

“Mine? I like that almost as much as yes.” Darcy’s lips descended to Elizabeth’s skin, a smile tugging at his lips as he whispered his joy to her.

As Darcy’s light kisses sent shivers down her spine, Elizabeth could feel her breath catching, and his gentle touches along her temple and down her cheek brought a whisper of mine . She could feel the warmth of his breath on her lips when his feather-light kiss settled over them.

The weight of Kiernan’s hug surprised them both when he flung his arms around them. “Can I come to the wedding?” He knew they loved each other. They were both just too stubborn to move forward without a push.

“As long as your parents approve.” Elizabeth chuckled as she felt the tension leaving her body and echoing in the air.

Looking up at the pink and orange sky, Darcy blew a long breath out through his lips. This was not the time or place. There was plenty of time for more later, hopefully soon. Maybe he could arrange for a special license? “Kiernan, I want you to remember today when you court a girl you like.”

“That is so far from now, I am not worried. Besides, I am Miss Elizabeth’s chaperone.

It is my job.” The appearance of exaggerated responsibility replaced Kiernan’s fleeting look of disgust. He was happy they had finally seen reason, but he was perfectly happy to avoid mushy stuff for as long as possible.

“I suppose it is. Let us head back. We do not want Miss Elizabeth to catch a chill.” Gripping Elizabeth’s hand tightly in parting, he moved to swing Kiernan back up into the saddle.

Returning to Elizabeth, he took her hand again as he headed back down the path on the way back to Longbourn, Cadmus and Kiernan following meekly behind.

“I bet Mrs. Allen’s scones will be warm from the oven if we hurry. Can I ride Crumpet all the way back?” Leaning over, Kiernan briefly hugged Cadmus in glee.

“Of course.” Darcy moved to whisper to Elizabeth. “Maybe he will be so distracted that he won’t remember to chaperone.”

The sound of Elizabeth’s joyous laughter filled the air, her arm around Darcy’s as she nestled into his shoulder while they walked.

She delighted in the view that had brought her joy in the past, and now it was even more special to experience it with the man she loved.

With the vibrant oranges and reds of the fall foliage, the place she loved seemed to whisper a bittersweet goodbye.

All too soon they were back on Longbourn land and Elizabeth was saying goodbye to Kiernan.

He would stay behind to help his family move to Pemberley.

It only took a slight amount of convincing for him to accept that they would see him soon.

They had decided on their walk down that they would marry at the Pemberley chapel.

Hopefully Mrs. Bennet would host Georgiana for a time.

They both loved her dearly but felt that they could use some time to themselves.

Between the way Elizabeth was snuggled to Darcy’s side, and the grin equipped with dimples that he was sporting, Mrs. Bennet soon guessed that their relationship had progressed. “Have the two of you set a date yet?”

“Wills suggested next week, but I insist I want my arm free of the splint and sling when we marry,” Elizabeth responded with a grin.

“I have recommended she see a specialist in London to see exactly how quickly she can be done with them both.” Darcy had never smiled this much in his life.

“I am so happy for you. Thank you, William, for giving me such a wonderful set of sisters!” Georgiana flung herself at the couple and after a brief hug, she darted over to Kitty and Lydia to dance around with them in glee.

“Congratulations, Darcy!” Both Theodore and Bingley were there promptly to slap Darcy on the back.

After the flurry of congratulations abated, they began overseeing the final preparations to get in the carriages and leave. Theodore, Darcy, and Georgiana were accompanying the Bennets to London. To avoid overcrowding, Bingley and Darcy provided them with the use of both carriages.

Suddenly everyone was getting in the carriages and Elizabeth paused, her foot frozen on the step.

Looking over her shoulder, she took a last look at what had once been her home.

Hundreds of years of Bennets had lived there, were born there, died there, and it all ended with her father. It abruptly made her very sad.

“Remember, think of this as a beginning. It is not an end.” Darcy brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm tenderly.

“Yes, this is the start of our magnificent journey together.” Elizabeth felt her heart flutter at his sweet display of affection, her face blushing in response.

Her eyes were wide with anticipation as she scampered into the carriage and settled onto the seat.

She found herself unable to sit still, abuzz with delight at the thought of planning her wedding with the man she adored.